Global Scans · UK · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Achieving Brexit will dominate the UK's agenda up to and beyond 2020 with uncertainty rife until clear decisions are made on the form of Great Britain's future relationship with the EU and the rest of the world.

• [New] Internationally, old conservative parties are in crisis and are threatened with displacement by right-wing populist and even fascistic outfits, such as Reform in the UK and Trump in the US. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] Shark-spotting drones will fly from dawn to dusk throughout the year at 70 beaches in New South Wales under an expanded monitoring program. The Guardian
• [New] The QSN will help UK companies develop products to internationally recognised standards, accelerating adoption and supporting sectors such as healthcare, transport, and finance. UKAuthority
• [New] An amber extreme heat warning issued by the Met Office has been extended as scorching temperatures cling on in parts of the UK. BBC Weather
• [New] Lower oil prices following the easing of tensions between the US and Iran have reduced inflation risks and lowered the likelihood of more aggressive rate hikes by the Bank of England. investing.com
• [New] 90% of UK homes will overheat by 2050. BBC News
• [New] The test, developed by Genedrive, a UK-based genetic testing company, allows hospitals to identify patients who are unlikely to respond to clopidogrel, a commonly prescribed drug used to reduce the risk of blood clots that can cause further strokes. Bristol After Stroke
• [New] Based on current planning rates, Wales will only meet 10% of its target by 2030, lagging behind other devolved nations. BBC News
• [New] There's no denying that British politics has been uncharacteristically disruptive over the last decade as voters grow impatient for the change promised by the Leave campaign. HuffPost UK
• [New] With the recent heatwaves in the UK and the prospect of hotter summers in the future, many businesses will be wondering how they can become more environmentally friendly to help tackle climate change. Small Business UK
• [New] In terms of supply, the UK will hold a tender for a 2029 Gilt totalling £1.5bn, while the US will auction a new 7-year note with a total size of $44bn. investing.com
• [New] A major challenge for local political reporters in 2026 is adapting to the new political reality where the old two or three-party system has now been replaced by a much more unpredictable and volatile climate, as the Green Party and Reform UK make massive gains. Vuelio -
• [New] Financial services will be central to making the UK a world-leading AI economy, by providing the capital, infrastructure, and trust needed for AI to scale across the wider economy. FCA
• [New] Temperatures are forecast to rise to 37 C across most of southern England and Wales over the next three days, and potentially to 40 C in the most affected areas. The Guardian
• [New] In the UK, most serious delivery drone operations will fall outside simple Open Category flying. sUAS News
• [New] Elevated pension risk transfer volumes in the UK and other mature markets should sustain interest in bulk annuity platforms, funded reinsurance, block transactions, and administration technology. PwC
• The UK Government has announced that it plans to introduce a total ban on access to social media for children under 16. Mishcon de Reya LLP
• The UK could store enough green hydrogen in depleted North Sea oil and gas fields to meet future electricity demand for up to seven years. Electricity Info
• Power demand could soon be even greater than predicted by DESNZ because of the growth of AI. / UK Electricity Info
• Britain's electricity network will require up to £240bn of upgrades to support clean power targets, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has admitted. Electricity Info

Last updated: 30 June 2026